Answers to reviews:

Fire Lord: Well, the Dragonborn is basically a dragon with the body of a man. His blood and soul is that of a dragon's, so... he's not really human. Plus dragons are awesome creatures and some people have managed to make good human x dragon stories... though I think someone started the idea after seeing Donkey and Dragon from the Shrek movies.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. It belongs to Bethesda Studios.

-17th of the Last Seed, 4th Era 201-

"I'm still having trouble believing that really happened... a Dragon?" Hadvar said, shaking his head as he and Rahgol walked down a trail in the forest. The soldier looked at the dark-haired Nord beside him. "Closest town from here is Riverwood. My uncle's the blacksmith there, so I'm sure he'd help you out with forming some new armour and weapons."

"Thank you." Rahgol said with a small nod. He supposed he could go to Riverwood, get some armour forged, work on sharpening up his swords, and then going off to do whatever... though the mystery of that Dragon's appearance weighed heavily on his mind and he wasn't the only one.

"Why do you think that Dragon decided to attack Helgen? And why now? Dragons have been extinct for thousands of years! Since the end of the Dragon War." Hadvar said.

'Not all Dragons were killed by the end of the war.' Rahgol thought, his eyes briefly going to the huge mountain that was known as The Throat of the World before he looked at Hadvar. "I have no idea. But, Dragons rarely do anything without reason- especially an attack on this scale - this must've been a planned move."

"For what though?" Hadvar frowned.

Rahgol shrugged. "Who knows? I could make a few guesses but I suspect that none of them will be correct."

"Well, it does us no good to just stand here and talk about it. Riverwood's near here and my uncle's the blacksmith there, we can go to him for shelter." Hadvar said, turning and walking down the mountain, keeping a look out for wolves and trolls. Rahgol soon followed, which reminded Hadvar of something he said in Helgen "You said that your family wouldn't care about your death, were you serious when you said that?"

"My 'family' is dead." Rahgol said darkly. "They died many years ago when I was young... not that they didn't deserve it."

Hadvar looked at him in surprise, seeing a dark expression on his face and the way he spoke of his family meant there was a lot of bad blood. "I... see. Family quarrel got that bad, huh?"

"I didn't kill them if that's what you're thinking. A predator took them down." Rahgol said, glancing off to the side for a moment. "I was found by someone who came to be a better father to me than my actual father. Look, Hadvar, I appreciate what you've done in helping me out and escaping Helgen, but I don't want to talk about my past or my dead family."

"Very well." Hadvar nodded and he dropped the subject. The two walked for s bit, then Hadvar gestured to the mountain with the noticeable ruin. "You see that old ruin over there? That's Bleak Falls Barrow, I remember that the place used to give me nightmares when I was younger… Draugr coming down from the mountain to creep in through my window, things like that."

Rahgol grunted in amusement, his lips twitching a little. "Just be glad you're not thinking of Deathlords coming down."

"Deathlords?"

"Draugr that somehow can use the power of The Voice despite being dead. I suspect they were formerly the worshippers of Dragons, which is how they learned how to use The Voice." Rahgol explained.

Hadvar hummed in response, then a thought occurred to him as they got closer to Riverwood. "You know, with fighting skills like what I saw back there, you could make a heck of a soldier in the Legion. Have you ever considered joining?"

"No. I have no interest in the war, nor does it concern me. Fighting in wars has never really interested me and now there's just too much politics involved with the Legion. I also think they're going too far to appease the Thalmor when they should be focused on rebuilding from the war, making them appear even weaker than they currently are… Ah, no offence." Rahgol said.

Hadvar shook his head. "None taken, I can see your point but I hope you'll reconsider, the Legion could use a soldier like you and not just for your skills; your outlook is perfect for it, There are too many people joining the Legion just because they want glory or honor rather than to protect the Empire and if the rebels somehow have gotten themselves a Dragon, then General Tullius is the only one who can stop them."

Rahgol scoffed. "If I did join the Legion, it wouldn't be for a similar reason to others. While I don't like how the Legion is going so far to appease the Thalmor, I don't agree on what Ulfric did when he challenged the High King. He was dumb enough to claim he bested King Toryagg in single combat with no witnesses and then fled like a coward after killing him like some common murderer."

"Agreed." Hadvar nodded.

By the time they arrived at Riverwood, the sun was already setting. Riverwood was small, but it had a relaxing feel to it. Rahgol saw a saw mill by the river, and some houses. When he looked to his right he heard an old woman scream at her son that she saw a Dragon, only for her son to not believe her, most likely thinking she's crazy with age which made Rahgol snort in amusement as he followed Hadvar towards a house that had a forge next to it.

"Uncle Alvor!" He yelled. The door began to open and a man with blacksmith robes came out of the house.

"Hadvar! Shor's bones, what happened to you, boy! Are you in some kind of trouble?" The man asked. He saw the tired look on Hadvar's face.

"Shh, uncle, please. Keep your voice down. I'm fine, but we should go inside to talk." Hadvar said, looking around. Alvor nodded then looked at Rahgol.

"What's going on, and who's this?" Alvor asked.

"He's a friend, saved my life in fact. Come on, I'll explain everything, but we need to get inside." Hadvar said. Alvor nodded and led the way into his house with his nephew and Rahgol following.

Once they were inside, Alvor closed the door and shouted. "Sigrid! We have company!"

Alvor took a seat at the table while a woman came up from the nearby stairs and a girl, about ten years old, walked over to join them. When the woman saw Hadvar, she gasped. "Hadvar! We've been so worried about you! Come, you two must be hungry. Sit down and I'll get you something to eat."

The two sat down across from Alvor while Sigrid worked on cooking something, and the girl took a seat beside her father. Alvor then looked at Hadvar and Rahgol. "Now then, boy, what's the big mystery? What are you doing here looking like you lost an argument with a cave bear?"

Hadvar chuckled at that before he sighed and shook his head. "I don't know where to start. You know I was assigned to General Tullius's guard. We were stopped in Helgen when we were attacked by...a Dragon."

Alvor and his wife, Sigrid, looked shocked and in disbelief at the news while their daughter looked in awe.

"Was it cool? Did it breathe fire!?" Sigrid shushed her quiet.

"Let Hadvar speak, Dorthe." She said gently. Dorthe nodded.

"A dragon? That's… ridiculous. You aren't drunk, are you boy?" Alvor asked skeptically.

"Husband, let him tell his story." Sigrid said.

"Not much more to tell. This Dragon flew over and just wrecked the whole place. Mass confusion. I don't know if anyone else got out alive. I doubt I'd have made it out myself if not for my friend here." Everyone looked at Rahgol, who merely grunted and looked off to the side, not exactly liking the attention. It didn't help that he preferred avoiding people and keeping to himself mostly. "I need to get back to Solitude to report to General Tullius. I hoped you could give us some supplies and a warm bed to sleep in for today."

Alvor nodded. "Of course! Any friend of Hadvar's is a friend of mine. I'd be glad to help however I can." He looked at Rahgol. "WHat's your name, boy?"

"...Rahgol." The dark-haired Nord said after a moment.

"Well met, Rahgol." Alvor nodded. "Like I said, I'm glad to help however I can. But I need your help. We need your help. The Jarl needs to know if there's a Dragon on the loose. Riverwood is defenseless...You need to get word to Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun to send whatever soldiers he can. If you do this for me, I'll be in your debt."

Rahgol was silent, but then he nodded. "Very well. If I may, I'd like to use your forge and work on some armour, and sharpen my swords. They need the work."

"I have a set of Iron Armour already crafted which I'll give to you free of charge." Alvor said, getting a interested look from Rahgol before he nodded.

"Then consider your debt to me paid with your generosity. I will set out for Whiterun right away once I have changed my armour and sharpened my swords.

After donning the Iron Armours, sans the helmet, and then sharpening up his Iron Swords for better sharpness and to not make them look so rusty anymore, Rahgol said his goodbyes to Hadvar an his family before leaving for Whiterun after getting directions to the city. But, Alvor gave him a map just to help him out. It took him an hour, but he managed to catch sight of the city from the trail he was on as he came out of the woodland area and into a huge clearing with nothing but farms, windmills, and a huge city to see. He figured the large city with what appeared to be a palace at the top was Whiterun, where he had to go.

Continuing down the road, Rangol heard a commotion and looked towards one of the farms where he saw a group of warriors battling a Giant. He raised an eyebrow and watched as the warriors managed to cut the Giant down, which was no small feat. However, one of the warriors, a woman with red hair and green face paint resembling a claw mark noticed he had been watching and strode up to him.

"Well, that's taken care of. No thanks to you." The woman huffed, crossing her arms.

"Didn't look like my fight, I don't get involved in fights that aren't mine." Rahgol said gruffly and uncaringly.

"That may be, but a true Nord would've gotten involved for the promise of glory alone." The woman retorted.

Rahgol scoffed. "I think the word you're looking for there isn't "Nord" but "fool"."

"And that's a milk-drinker's response if I ever heard one, you may look tough, but I bet you couldn't fight your way out of a wet paper bag." The woman smirked.

Rahgol narrowed his eyes. "Is that a challenge?" He asked with a growl as he stepped to the woman and glared at her, feeling his pride boil at being challenged. It's something he's always had. He was prideful, and when it came to challenges... his pride refused the idea of backing down. He did not back down from anybody. The woman merely laughed and started taunting him, which further pissed Rahgol off and he responded by driving his forehead into the woman's nose causing her to be knocked to the floor with a bleeding nose. "Oh look at that, I can knock you down in one hit."

One of the woman's companions, a dark-haired man clad in a set of heavy armour that Rahgol didn't recognise, laughed. "He's got you there, Aela. I'm Farkas, you've already met Aela. Not many have the guts to headbutt her."

"Not many are alive when they annoy me." Rahgol retorted before frowning. "Who are you people?"

"An outsider, huh? Never heard of the Companions?" Farkas asked.

"No, I've heard of the Companions." Rahgol nodded. "You're the band of warriors that does mercenary work, correct?"

"Yes, and you could join us if you wished, maybe put that head of yours to use." Aela said as she got back to her feet, while holding her nose to stop the bleeding.

"Maybe another time, I have important business with the Jarl of Whiterun." Rahgol said.

"That's not an issue, just visit Jorrvaskr if you're interested and talk to Kodlak." Farkas said as they left, Rahgol followed them up to Whiterun but had a bit of trouble with the guards, which meant he lost them in the hustle and bustle of Whiterun during the day.

"Excuse me but where could I find the Jarl of this Hold?" Rahgol asked, stopping a nearby guard who directed him to the palace at the top of the hill, which was named Dragonsreach. Upon entering it, Rahgol made his way towards the Jarl, who was in conversation with another man while a Dunmer noticed him and unsheathed her weapon which halted him in his tracks and he placed a hand on one of his two swords.

"What's the meaning of this interruption? Jarl Balgruuf is not receiving visitors." The Dunmer demanded.

Despite the hostilities, Rahgol calmly spoke. "I'm here with information on Helgen and a request for aid from Riverwood."

"You know about Helgen?" The Dunmen's eyes widened before she lowered her sword then sheathed it. "The Jarl will want to speak to you personally. Approach."

The Jarl, finishing his conversation with the other man, noticed what was happening and demanded. "Irileth, what is the meaning of this?"

"A visitor who knows about Helgen." The Dunmer said, causing the Jarl's eyes to widen and he looked at Rahgol with much more seriousness.

"You know about Helgen? Were you there? Did you see this... Dragon with your own eyes?" Balgruuf asked, his tone indicating that he didn't believe a Dragon had destroyed Helgen. Rahgol couldn't fault him for it, since Dragons were meant to be extinct.

"I did." Rahgol nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. "I know it was a Dragon. I know enough about Dragons to accurately identify them when I see them. The attack happened as the Imperials were about to execute Ulfric Stormcloak."

"You're a member of the Stormcloak?" Balgruuf asked with narrowed eyes.

"No, just someone who the Imperials thought was a spy because I walked into an ambush I had no idea about when attempting to cross the border and leave SKyrim." Rahgol huffed, still annoyed at that whole situation.

Balgruuf sighed. "The Empire these days, it's nothing like in the past, and it doesn't surprise me that Ulfric would be mixed up in this." The man looked at the man with the luxury robes to his right. "What do you say now, Proventus? Shall we continue to trust in the strength of our walls? Against a Dragon?"

"What do you say now, Proventus? Shall we continue to trust in the strength of our walls? Against a dragon?" Balgruuf asked. Just when Proventus was about to speak, the Dunmer woman cut him off.

"My lord, we should send troops to Riverwood att once. It's in the most immediate danger, if that dragon is lurking in the mountains…" Suddenly Proventus cut her off.

"The Jarl of Falkreath will view that as a provocation! He'll assume we're preparing to join Ulfric's side and attack him!" Proventus said. "We should…" He began, but he was cut off by Balgruuf himself.

"Enough! I will not stand idly while a dragon burns my hold and slaughters my people!" He looked at his Housecarl. "Irileth, send a detachment to Riverwood at once."

"Yes my Jarl." Irileth said, before walking off.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll return to my duties." Proventus said, also walking away.

"That would be best…" Balgruuf muttered, before looking at Rahgol. "Well done. You sought me out, on your own initiative. You've done Whiterun a service, and I won't forget it."

"Hm, it's nothing. I owed Alvor a debt for helping me out the way he did and he asked me to inform you of the Dragon in return, besides I'm not the type of person to leave innocents to die... despite my seemingly uncaring nature."Rahgol said but then his ribs sent a spike of pain through him, reminding him that he still had not had them looked at.

"You should go rest up and get yourself looked at." Balgruuf said, noticing Rahgol wince in pain. "Tomorrow, I want you here as I have a task that you could do for me. But we'll speak about it tomorrow. You should go to the Temple of Kynareth. If there's anywhere in Whiterun to fix up your injuries, it's there. I'll have a guard escort you down"

After the guard had escorted him to the Temple, the healer - a woman named Danica Pure-Spring - identified that his ribs had been cracked by the fall through the inn and that his cuts from the Dragon's teeth had mostly healed but would leave some fairly nasty scars. She stated that she was amazed that he made it out of Helgen and to Whiterun at all. After giving him a couple of potions, a meal and ordering him to rest for the night, she bustled off to deal with other patients, leaving Rahgol alone with his thoughts.

'Well, this has been an eventful couple of days in Skyrim, a Dragon returning and attacking Helgen is not a good sign. Actually, that reminds me, that Dragon looked familiar, like I've seen her somewhere before or I know of her, but that's impossible; the only dragon I know is Paarthurnax, all the others were either killed or in hiding, so why was that one familiar? Meh, I won't get anywhere thinking about it, I need to get some sleep so I'm ready to do the Jarl's task, probably sending me into one of those abandoned burial sites…'

With that last thought, Rahgol shut his eyes and dozed off.

The black Dragoness that had attacked Helgen sat on a pillar, deep in thought. She had midnight black scales, eyes that were a dark shade of crimson, a powerful set of wings and sharp claws arming each digit on her four feet. She was soon joined by another Dragon with red scales and green eyes with slit pupils; he looked like a smaller but bulkier version of the black Dragoness in terms of physical shape, though he appeared to have more battle scars than she did.

"Thuri, I take it your attack on the joor settlement went well." The red dragon in a deep, rough male voice as he landed, causing the dragoness to look at him.

"Of course it did, Odahviing, I have not been gone for so long that I cannot handle a single joor village." The Dragoness barked at Odahviing.

"Of course no, Thuri, but you seem deep in thought, might I enquire as to why?" The Dragoness paused at Odahviing's question, before looking up at the sky which was littered with stars and an aurora could be seen cutting across the view of them.

"One of the joor - a Human - carried the smell of Dov. It was stronger than even the scent of a Dovahkiin; had I not known better, I'd have thought he was a Dovah Sonaak." The Dragoness said, narrowing her eyes in thought before shaking her head. "But if he was a descendant of the followers of the Priests, he would've been grovelling at my feet rather than dare to insult me. But I have to admit..." She licked her chops. "His blood tasted so sweet, and throwing him through a building as even more satisfying."

"Indeed, Thuri..." Odahviing said, sounding like he had something on his mind which caused the Dragoness to look at him.

"What is it, old friend?" She asked.

"You say he had the smell of Dov, far stronger than that of the Dovahkiin, yes?" Odahviing inquired, getting a nod from the Dragoness. "It's possible this mortal could've been around one of us, but the only one of us believed to still be alive is..."

The Dragoness' eyes narrowed in rage as she came to the conclusion Odahviing was making. She turned her gaze forward, so sure she can see the highest mountain in all of Skyrim, the Throat of the World. One name came to mind, and she spoke it with a mixture of anger, hurt and betrayal.

"Paarthurnax..."

And that's it for this chapter everyone. I hope you all enjoyed it.

Dragon Tongue Translations:

Thuri: Overlord

Odahviing: WInged Snow Hunter

Dov: Dragon

Dovahkiin: Dragonborn

Dovah Sonaak: Dragon Priest